Greek authorities have detained fugitive Moldovan oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, wanted in connection with one of Europe’s largest bank fraud scandals. The arrest was confirmed by Moldova’s national police on Tuesday and follows a long-standing Interpol red notice for the former politician and businessman.
Plahotniuc, who fled Moldova in 2019, is accused of complicity in a $1 billion (€850 million) bank fraud dating back to 2014—a scheme that reportedly siphoned off funds equivalent to one-eighth of Moldova’s annual GDP at the time.
Interpol Athens Confirms Detention
According to Moldovan authorities, Interpol’s Athens bureau reported that two Moldovan nationals had been detained in Greece, one of them confirmed to be Plahotniuc. The identity of the second detainee was not disclosed.
Interpol issued the warrant for Plahotniuc on charges of participating in a criminal organisation, fraud, and money laundering, as confirmed by Greece’s organised crime unit.
Moldova’s Ministry of Justice and Prosecutor’s Office are now coordinating efforts to request extradition of both individuals.
A Political Powerbroker Turned Fugitive
Plahotniuc, long considered one of Moldova’s wealthiest and most influential figures, fled the country in June 2019 after a failed attempt to form a government with his Democratic Party. His departure came amid intensifying investigations into widespread corruption.
Since then, his whereabouts remained largely unknown. The United States designated him persona non grata in 2020, citing serious allegations of corruption, including using his influence to manipulate Moldova’s justice system and target political opponents.
In 2022, the US State Department and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Plahotniuc. These included:
- Asset freezes in the UK and its overseas territories.
- Travel bans preventing his entry into the US and UK.
- Accusations of involvement in pro-Russian disinformation campaigns and interference in Moldova’s pro-European trajectory.
Implications for Moldova’s Political Landscape
Plahotniuc’s arrest comes just months before Moldova’s critical parliamentary elections in September, where President Maia Sandu and her pro-EU allies face mounting pressure from Kremlin-backed actors engaged in disinformation and electoral manipulation.
The arrest is likely to bolster Sandu’s campaign narrative around fighting corruption and securing Moldova’s European integration path. It also provides a significant symbolic victory for the country’s law enforcement and international cooperation mechanisms.
Plahotniuc has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
